Current inventory of GRAS notices for animal food. This table is provided on an interim basis, until the Animal Food GRAS Notices Inventory database is launched.

Reptile Pack Members

Search PetsWeekly

Reptiles

Your Guide to Russian Tortoises #ReptileCare

Written by Stacy Mantle

Tuesday, 14 July 2015 22:00

Not very long ago, we had a turtle named Augustine. Many of you will remember our years with this little guy. We sort of inherited Aug from my dad, who had received him as a gift but didnâ€™t have time to devote to him. Turtles and tortoises are just like any other pet and they require a lot of attention and care.

Today, weâ€™re working with Petsmart in getting word out about what makes a good tortoise owner. Aug was a Russian Tortoise (to the best of my knowledge) and normally they live about 50 years.

If youâ€™re thinking about getting a Russian Box Tortoise, I have to tell you - I highly recommend it. Augustine was a great pet for many, many years. But if youâ€™re thinking of getting a tortoise, youâ€™ll need to plan on how you can provide for him or her for many years.

For those who are new to the world of reptiles, leopard geckos can be the perfect starter pet. They are docile, friendly, naturally hypo-allergenic and very easy to care for. We've compiled the perfect starter guide to introduce you to these unique pets.

Where do they come from?

Leopard geckos are native to deserts from the Middle East to India. They live in semi-arid areas in small territories characterized by a single male and several females. The male is very territorial will defend his home from other males. When two males come across each other in the wild (or in captivity), they will rapidly tum their tails and circle each other, trying to intimidate their opponent. Though they do not have teeth, they do have a strong bite and will attack each other until one gives up and retreats. This is important to know when you keep them in captivity - never keep males in the same cage.

Leopard geckos are unique among geckos in that they possess eyelids, a feature not commonly found in other gecko species. While they do have eyelids, they do not eyelashes, so you may see them lick their eyes in order to keep them clean.

Whereas tree-dwelling geckos have special toe pads that allow them to walk up vertical surfaces, leopard geckos dwell on the ground and lack this adaptation. Unlike other geckos in the pet trade, leopard geckos are friendly and will be content to sit on your arm with you while you watch television.

While desert tortoise numbers appear to be declining in the wild, the number of tortoises being held in captivity is increasing at an alarming rate. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, through its Tortoise Adoption Program, has been working for 30 years to educate the public about desert tortoises. Two of the elements of the program that are considered essential to avoiding overpopulation of captive desert tortoises are:

Never remove a tortoise from the wild â€“ itâ€™s illegal

Never allow captive tortoises to breed

Just like cats and dogs, there are currently more desert tortoises available for adoption in Arizona than there are homes willing to have one as a pet. Once captive, desert tortoises cannot be released back into the wild as captive animals can pass on upper respiratory tract disease or pathogens to wild tortoise populations.

â€śWithout the publicâ€™s help in keeping wild tortoises wild and preventing backyard breeding of captive tortoises, Arizona has the potential to end up with a conservation challenge similar to the one being faced by the closure of the tortoise conservation center in Nevada,â€ť said Cristina Jones, Arizona Game and Fishâ€™s turtle program coordinator. â€śThe public must do their part to help this iconic desert species.â€ť

There are many legends surrounding the life of St. Patrick. Of course, the one that we're most interested in is his reputed "mass exodus" of snakes from Ireland. Here's the short version:

It is believed that in 441 A.D., St. Patrick fasted and prayed for 40 days at the summit of Croagh Patrick ("the Reek") in County Mayo. During this time, as blackbirds assaulted him, St. Patrick continued to pray and ring a bell as a proclamation of his faith.

In answer to his prayers, an angel appeared to tell him that the Irish people would retain their Christian faith for all time. Today, more than 100,000 pilgrims visit the Reek annually to follow in St. Patrick's footsteps. It was while he was atop the mountain that St. Patrick drove all the snakes in Ireland to the sea, effectively saving Ireland from some kind of snake revolution.

Free Stuff

Today's Pet

About Us

PetsWeekly.com has become one of the most popular websites in the pet industry and is well-known for their reviews on the newest and most unusual pet products. You'll find pet product giveaways, pet parent advice, the latest pet news, and the strangest reviews while guest blogs by veterinarians and behavior specialists help you navigate the wilds of pet care.

Reach Our Pack

PetsWeekly.com is written for the multi-pet household who treat their pets like family. We offer reliable product and service reviews on the newest pet products; as well as humorous stories, pet news, educational resources, animal facts, fun quotations, and helpful articles on behavioral and health concerns in pets of all species. Sit. Stay. And learn how to live amongst animals (without becoming one).